Miguel Maysonet Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for Stony Brook RB

Stony Brook's Miguel Maysonet has emerged as the Cinderella pick for the 2013 NFL draft's diamond in the rough at the running-back position.

Maysonet joined the Seawolves in 2010 as a transfer once Hofstra disbanded its football program.

While Maysonet is no longer flying under the radar thanks to ESPN cameras following him around and a massive pro day, plenty of questions still remain.

Does he have what it takes to be the first player drafted in Stony Brook history? Can he succeed at the NFL level?

Read on to find out.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

+ Solid size at 5'9", 209 pounds

- Upright runner at times

+ Decisive, powerful and determined runner

- Not enough breakaway speed

+ Tough between the tackles

- Potentially inflated stats vs. weak competition

+ Sustainable speed, no fumbling issues

- Lack of versatility/receiving experience

Tools

Maysonet is a power back with excellent vision and even better patience. He set school records and was the runner-up for the Walter Payton Award after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards in 2012.

He's equipped with solid burst and acceleration once having made his decision. He breaks away for massive runs on film but tests poorly in the straight-line speed category—he ran a 4.65 40-yard dash.

Maysonet also comes with impressive stamina. He's never missed a game and has carried the load on his own each game over the course of his career to date.

Intangibles/Character

Maysonet is a selfless player in the utmost sense. He could have worked out at Rutgers' pro day leading up to the draft to give himself more exposure.

Instead, he chose to work out at the Stony Brook pro day so his teammates could work out in front of as many scouts as possible—28 NFL teams showed up to watch Maysonet and his teammates.

System

At Stony Brook, Maysonet operated mostly out of single-back, I-formation and pistol looks, with some Wildcat mixed in for good measure. Maysonet was either asked to hit the correct hole or wait for pulling guards to pave the way.

He wasn't given many opportunities to make a difference in the passing game, but he looked solid in pass protection and in play-action scenarios.

Vision

Maysonet has great vision in most cases. There are times when he'll miss an obvious cut-back opportunity, but more often than not, he is able to see holes and how defenders react before it happens.

Always churning his legs, Maysonet makes a decision and sticks with it. This uncanny ability to make the right decision after weighing all options patiently trumps most measurabledeficiencies.

Passing Game

To be frank, Maysonet was rarely used in the passing offense. He flashed solid technique and ability in pass protection.

Maysonet looked great in front of scouts in passing drills. His routes were crisp, and more often than not, he wasn't catching the ball with his body. The performance should soothe some concerns over his inability to be a three-down back at the next level.

Running Between the Tackles

Maysonet makes his money between the tackles. in short-yardage situations he never stops churning his legs and falling forward.

First contact never brings Maysonet down, which is critical between the tackles. He's always keenly aware of where the first-down marker and end zone are and has shown an ability to finish off runs violently.

Elusiveness

Maysonet is far from the most elusive back in this year's class. Still, he has a variety of tools he uses in the open field that can make would-be-tacklers whiff.

While not overly quick in his cuts, Maysonet makes up for it by lowering his shoulder and simply bowling over defenders. He's at times hurdled defenders completely to keep them guessing.

Maysonet's best tool in the open field may be his violent stiff arm, which he used regularly to plant defenders in the turn as he continued to rumble down field.

One issue Maysonet encounters in the open field is a bad habit of wildly swinging his arms to maintain his balance. It didn't hurt him in college, but NFL defenders will take advantage. The same goes for his habit of running upright once into the open field.

Power

Power is an area Maysonet doesn't particularly struggle with often. His legs never stop grinding him forward, and he does an excellent job of lowering and squaring his pads at times to run through defenders.

Maysonet finishes off runs with violence and usually drags a few players with him after contact before going down.

Future Role/Scheme Versatility

Placed in the right opportunity, Maysonet could be a very productive player at the NFL level. His solid traits, such as patience, quality decision-making and adequate power, and game speed could be well utilized behind a power offensive line.

When you think of Maysonet, think of a guy like Alfred Morris, except slightly smaller and stronger in drills.

Like Morris, Maysonet is a small-school player who could excel in the NFL in the right situation.